Suburban Goddess

As the political debates rage on from both the left and the right, each seeking to besmirch the other’s morals and values, I’ve decided to take a stand for what I believe in.

I will be attending one of the many tea parties in Houston today. I will not be attending because I hate Obama, because I’m racist, because I’m anti-Semitic, or any other of the number of reasons that the ultra-liberal side of the media is painting the protestors as.

I am not a card-carrying member of the NRA, but I plan on becoming one since my home was broken into; the district I live in is horribly understaffed and underpaid.  Perhaps if my tax dollars were spent on law enforcement, my neighborhood would be safer.

I do not approve of a lot of the images that my child is bombarded with on television, but rather than infringe on the rights of others to watch it, I simply turn it off (or Tivo so Mommy can watch later.) If the video games are too violent, I don’t allow them in my home. If I know they are in the homes of others that are out of my control, I plan on teaching my child the difference between right and wrong. I do not need a government agency to make that decision for me; I’m perfectly capable of making it myself.

I do not mind if you want to save the Salt Marsh Mouse. I don’t care if you want to research the effects of swine aroma; I’m sure that projects like this *do* make a difference in this world, and help some group that desparately needs that help.

I, however, do not wish to foot the bill for them.

It amazes how many people jump up and down over a document they have allowed the press to chop up and spoon-feed you. Have you read it yourself? I read the stimulus bill. I agree with some projects, I disagree with others, but it is my belief that Congress members who want support these projects should put their campaigning skills to work in their own districts and stop shoving their hands into my pockets. Start a charity. Have a fund-raiser (I hear those Congress-types are good at that stuff. If you can raise millions of dallars for YOURSELF, then obviously your skills of persuasion are remarkable.) Then I can CHOOSE where I’d like my money to go. But right now, my pockets are running a little light for these forced charity donations, and I know a few people who are in the same boat that I am.

It bothers me that I am painted as a right-wing activist for wanting to attend this event. It’s not about a political party; it’s about the fact that I am sick of watching ridiculously wasteful government spending, and now they are holding out their hand saying, “Give me more!”

No, sir. Where I come from, we take care of our belongings, we clean our plates,  we work hard and we save for a rainy day. To me, it is a sad state of affairs when my inbox is full of “government employee” jokes. It’s sad, because there’s a measure of truth in it. Purge out the laziness in a few departments, and you’ll save that freaking mouse, I promise you. I can point you to a few agencies if you need help figuring out where to start.

So I am standing up to say stop wasting my money, and stop putting the burden on my daughter’s generation. I am showing my daughter that I have values, and how to believe in them. I am showing my daughter that sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in, and sometimes, people will say mean things simply because they do not agree with you. I am teaching her to hold her head high, do not sink to that level, and do not back down if the issue at hand means something to you.

And if she doesn’t learn anything from this endeavor, I hope she at least learns that apathy gets you no where. …